He said: "I strongly believe that the free press is essential for democracy to function, it's important and essential work, and in a free society and in a democracy, the work of a free press is as important as a parliamentary system.

"That is why I support the work of the news media and I always try to be as accessible and as open to the media as I can be and, yes, there are sometimes tensions between government and media, but that is as it should be.

"I profoundly regret if anyone in the country thinks that in any way I don't support the free press, or don't respect the work of journalists.

"The free and fair and balanced media is a cornerstone of democracy and our freedoms and that's why it is so important, but it should not consider itself beyond reproach or above criticism.

"This was a private event, it was done at my request. I wanted to sit down with young Irish people living in New York to have an exchange of views with them to hear from them what their thoughts were on the situation in America and in Ireland.

"There is no record of it, there was no speech given. It was back and forth conversation involving about 15 to 20 people covering a whole range of topics.

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